A prominent voice within the German Green Party, Jürgen Trittin, is calling for an immediate cessation of German arms deliveries to Israel. In an interview with the German news magazine “Der Stern”, Trittin stated that continued arms exports are untenable as long as there is a suspicion that those weapons could be used in violations of international law. He emphasized that this is not a matter of political preference but a legal imperative.
Trittin also pointed to potential domestic political benefits of such a shift. He noted significant public sentiment against the current level of arms transfers, citing polls indicating that nearly 75% of Germans favor limiting or halting deliveries to Israel. He believes a change in policy could help bridge the gap between the political establishment and the wider population.
Furthermore, Trittin cautioned against conflating Germany’s historical responsibility towards Israel, stemming from the Holocaust, with the policies of the current Israeli government. He expressed concern that the German government has insufficiently distinguished between the two, highlighting reliance within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government on elements he described as racist and far-right. He argued that a clearer distinction is necessary in Berlin’s approach to the relationship.